Lee Rigby murder defendant was ‘going to kill me’

IN COURT: A sketch of inside an Old Bailey court where Lee Rigby murder suspects are shown, right and second right (PA)

A POLICE officer arriving on the scene where Lee Rigby was murdered has told a court about how she “thought” the alleged murderers were going to kill her.

Giving evidence anonymously, the armed policewoman, known only as D49, said in a statement read to the Old Bailey court: “I instantly thought 'he's going to kill me’”, in regards to the moment when one of the defendants is alleged to have charged at her with a weapon.

Michael Adebolajo, 28, of Romford, Essex, and Michael Adebowale, 22, from Greenwich, southeast London, are both accused of Rigby’s murder and attempted murder of a police officer.

They deny both charges, but have admitted possession of weapons.

Rigby, 25, was murdered on May 22 after being run over by a car and repeatedly stabbed by various weapons.

The murder trial is now in its third day after experiencing several delays to its start.

The jury have been shown distressing images and footage recorded at the scene by members of the public – the murder took place in broad daylight as fusilier Rigby returned back to his barracks in Woolwich, southeast London.

Family members of the murdered soldier are attending the murder trial in central London.

Prosecutor Richard Whittam QC read officer D49’s account to the court, in which she said: “I saw a black male running at me waving both his hands in the air in a chopping motion.

“In his right hand I saw what I call a meat cleaver or a machete.

“I instantly thought 'he's going to kill me'. I went to draw my Glock. Due to my position in the car, the internal door has a panel jutting out.

“I could not immediately draw my Glock out due to this. It was a split second decision to draw my Taser.

“I could still see the look in the suspect's eyes. They were so wide and I could see the whites of them. He was shouting something.”

The armed officer then saw the second suspect, alleged to be Adebowale, who was armed with a gun.

In her statement, she added: “I thought 'Oh my God he's going to shoot me'. I feared for my life”.

A video was also shown to the court of Adebolajo at the scene with bloodied hands.

In the footage, he is heard to say: “The only reason we have killed this man today is because Muslims are dying daily by British soldiers. It's an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

“We will never stop fighting you until you leave us alone.

“I apologise that women had to witness this today but in our lands our women have to see the same”.

He is heard to add: “You people will never be safe. Remove your governments, they don't care about you. Do you think David Cameron is gonna get caught in the street when we start busting our guns? Do you think the politicians are gonna die?

“No it's gonna be the average man like you, and your children. So get rid of them, tell them to bring our troops back so we can, so you can all live in peace.

“Leave our lands and you'll live in peace. That's all I have to say.”

The trial continues.

Posted on: 03/12/2013 02:53 PM

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